Aversion training essential for dogs

Dog aversion training in Raetihi last weekend, from left DoC ranger Dan Hurley, Kohatu Bauer, and Michael Robson from Ohakune with his black Cocker Spaniel Ozzy in front of him and the prop kiwi in the foreground. Photo/Paulne Philpps

In the Waimarino, kiwi aversion training for dogs has become a serious business.

Last weekend more than 100 owners from the district turned up to have their dogs trained to avoid the killing of kiwi.

Whakamaru Wild Life Trust chairman Ralph Berry of Raetihi said it was a very large turnout.

The dogs were trained by Whanganui Department of Conservation officer Daniel Hurley.

Mr Berry said that last week was the first time the trust had advertised the dog training in the local community newspaper and the interest had been huge.

"We have a lot of wild kiwi in the Waimarino but the numbers are dwindling. We need to do everything we can to preserve them. Kiwi have no way of protecting themselves, they are fragile. They have no chest protection and of course they can't fly away from predators."

Dogs are right up there with stoats, ferrets cats and rats as the main kiwi killers, he said.

The owners of domestic, working and hunting dogs have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control at all times around areas where wild kiwi live.

Kiwi aversion training is run three times a year in the Waimarino, he said.

"Owners should really keep dogs on a lead and away from kiwi areas."

Kiwi aversion training was set up throughout New Zealand five years ago to help reduce the growing threat dogs pose to kiwi. Dogs need to learn that kiwi are something they should stay away from, he said.

Dogs are certificated if they pass the course which means more and more landowners and farmers around in the region give access only to hunters with trained dogs, he said.

Mr Hurley said in many parts of New Zealand hunting permits are given to people with dogs that have done the course. People hunting on DoC land also need to have certified dogs.

Before a dog can be trained to avoid kiwi, it must have been taught basic obedience so that it does what its owner asks, he said.

"As part of the training, dogs are walked, usually not on a lead, past a few different props including dead kiwi usually frozen, and leaf and nesting material."

If the dog shows an interest in these objects, it gets a short sharp shock from the trainer, with a special electronic collar.

"The shock makes it yelp, and the dog quickly learns that these objects are something to stay away from."

It's a good idea for dogs owners to turn up for a refresher course after 12 months or less, to make sure their dog has remembered what it learnt, he said.

Mr Berry said hunters throughout the Waimarino were becoming more diligent with their dogs.

"Otherwise farmers won't let them on their properties to hunt."

The dog owners who come for training are given appointment times, he said.

And the Ruapehu Vets in Raetihi have offered cheaper microchipping rates for all dogs who did the training course, he said.

Our native brown kiwi really needs our protection, he said.

"They are very precious little birds and we must preserve them and stop our kiwi population from falling."